Amigos de la Polícia – San Juan del Sur

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Sarah

Amigos de la Polícia, a new Municipal Security Initiative, held its kick-off event in the Central Park on Friday. San Juan’s Mayor, the Captain of the police, and two sub-commissioners were in attendance, as well as members of the AdP board. Dancers from the Fundacion A. Jean Brugger kicked off the event with a few dance numbers and local police were on hand to display the new motorcycles and police radios purchased with the money raised to date by the initiative. It was surprisingly well-attended and people appeared hopeful that this increased effort toward safety and security in San Juan will continue to encourage tourism in the area.

You can read the Executive Summary of the AdP plan online at Del Sur.

Amigos is now online at: http://www.amigosdelapolicia.com

4 Months Here and Loving It!

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Sarah

So, my husband, dog, and I have been living here for over 4 months now and we are loving it! The rainy season has just begun and everything has turned green and lush. With the exception of a few days of straight downpours, we’ve had incredible weather. Usually, it rains for a few hours – either early in the morning or late in the evening, but the days are often full of sun.

One of my favorite places to visit is Playa Majagual. The beach is beautiful and the sunsets, over the rock outcroppings, can’t be beat.

Nicaragua Vacation Rentals – San Juan del Sur

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Sarah

There was a time when I complained that I didn’t have enough to keep me busy…I suspect I will curse the day I said that! I now have a second job! I have joined my good friend, Suyen, assisting with rentals at Vacation Rentals Nicaragua,a division of Aurora Beachfront Realty, where Justin is working as a Real Estate Agent.

I must admit that it’s kind of fun to drive into work with my husband everyday, even though we don’t see much of each other throughout the day!

Nicaragua is Safer than U.S.

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Sarah

When my husband and I first told people we were moving to Nicaragua, we were met with a lot of skepticism. Most were concerned about our safety, as many believe this country to be dangerous. Which is why when I read this article in CNN, I felt the need to post it.

“CNN reports that a global index of peace sponsored by the respected Economist Intelligence Group ranks Nicaragua safer than the U.S. On a peace scale of 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (most violent), Nicaragua is 1.92. It’s higest sub-ratings are earned for its respect of human rights, very low odds of terrorist attacks and armed conflict, as well as treatment of foreigners and property rights. There is crime here and elsewhere in Nicaragua, as there is everywhere on this planet, but when it happens here, it’s the talk of the neighborhood and the talk of the town, which highlights how rare it is when it happens — and how special this place is.”

San Juan del Sur Restaurant Recs…

Posted on May 1, 2008 by Sarah

One of my greatest concerns in moving here was that I would miss all of the great restaurants back home. I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised! Not only are there are a number of great places to eat in San Juan, but we’ve come to know the owners, chefs, and wait-staff, as well and we are always greeted with a warm smile and cold drink. If you’re planning a move here or even just a vacation, I highly recommend visiting some of these local spots:

El Pozo

Bistro style menu including seafood and steak with Sushi Sundays – Plus they have the best high-end burger in town, topped with killer onion rings!

Bambu Beach Club

Nicaraguan food with an Asian flair – Daily specials, great drinks, and regular events, including movie nights.

Mauricio’s Pizzeria

No better place in town to get a pizza, play a little chess, and, if you’re lucky, sample some tiramisu.

Mexican Rinconcito

Family-style restaurant offering my personal favorite, Chilaquiles, as well as tacos, fajitas, and the popular “tacos familiar” – a large taco dish that serves up to 6 people and includes 3 different types of meat and melted cheese!

El Colibri

Mediterranean influenced food served in a garden setting. Try the chicken supreme – it’s my absolute favorite!

Poneloya and León

Posted on April 26, 2008 by Sarah

We headed north to Poneloya, with a bunch of friends, this past weekend to watch a surf competition in Las Peñitas. Poneloya is a popular beach about a 20-minute drive from León. We stayed in this huge house right on the beach. Everyone brought food and we cooked up shrimp, steak, drank Nica-libres, and watched the sunset.

The next day, we stayed with some friends at their parents hostel in León and wandered around the city.

Clean-up of the Chocolata

Posted on April 20, 2008 by Sarah

One of the things we’ve learned since our arrival in San Juan is that EVERYONE is involved in community outreach in one way or another. Be it a one day event or ongoing projects, most people step up and offer their time. On this particular day, hundreds of local school kids, and members of the local community chipped in to pick up trash along the Chocolata – a road that runs from San Juan del Sur to Rivas. Justin and I joined friends and drove the the route delivering water and t-shirts to the volunteers.

My First Job in Nicaragua!

Posted on April 1, 2008 by Sarah

Actually, I am volunteering…nonetheless, I feel very positive about this work. I have teamed up with the organization, Community REfund.

Community REfund solicits contributions from real estate buyers, developers, agents, and other parties involved in the real estate transaction, and channels these funds towards the needs of the local communities in a way that is mutually beneficial to both donors and recipients. My primary responsibility is to make contact with each of the real estate agencies here in town and educate them about this initiative and give them the tools they need to talk about the project with their clients.

nuestra casita nueva

Posted on March 25, 2008 by Sarah

It’s hard to complain about life from here…our 1 bedroom casita includes hot water, back-up power (which is a HUGE bonus for those of you not living here), cable, internet, security, and housekeeping 2 times per week all for a very reasonable monthly rent. We are set back on the hillside, overlooking the bay of San Juan. Initially, I was concerned that Cooper, our dog, would struggle with the hill and lack of flat areas to “do his business,” but he’s taken to the new digs like fish to water (that is the right saying, right? I never get those right…) He’s befriended some of the neighbors in the nearby casitas, as well as the security guard who wears his sunglasses 24 hrs. a day.

Ometepe and my Parents’ Visit

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Sarah

My folks were just here for a 10-day visit. During their trip, we took a day-trip to Ometepe. One day just doesn’t do that place justice. You really need more time to explore the island of two volcanoes, to hike, to stay in one of the awesome hotels, etc. Even with just an afternoon, we saw a ton, including petroglyphs in Altagracia, Charco Verde Nature Reserve, and my personal favorite – Ojo de Agua – a natural spring with a rope swing.

When we returned from Ometepe, my parents were so taken by San Juan, the culture and the warmth of the people here, that they actually bought a home here! It’s not done yet, but you can check out a photo of the mock-up.